Gene Park added these comments in the current discussion du jour ...

On August 8, 1944, Darter left Brisbane for her fourth and last
war patrol in the Celebes and South China Seas. On September 10,
1944, she refueled and underwent minor repairs at Darwin, and
headed back to the Celebes Sea. On September 27, 1944, she
refueled at Mios Woendi, and on October 1, 1944, sailed with the
USS Dace (SS-247) to patrol the South China Sea as part of
preparatory efforts for the Seventh Fleet's planned invasion of
Leyte. On October 21, 1944, Dace and Darter headed for Balabac
Strait to intercept Japanese shipping moving to reinforce the
Philippines or attack the Leyte landing forces.

On October 23, 1944, Dace and Darter made contact with the main
body of the Japanese Center Force approaching Palawan Passage.
This enormous flotilla, under the command of Admiral Takeo Kurita,
consisted of 6 battleships, 10 cruisers, 2 light cruisers, and 15
destroyers. Its mission was to slip through San Bernardino Strait,
turn south and meet up with the Japanese "Southern Force"
consisting of another two formidable flotillas under the commands
of Admirals Shji Nishimura and Kiyohide Shima. The Southern
Forces' mission was to pass through Surigao Strait. Together the
two great IJN forces would annihilate the Seventh Fleet landing
forces at Leyte.

Darter immediately sent a contact report, one of the most
important of the war, since the location of this Japanese task
force had been unknown. The two submarines began the first
enagement of the decisive Battle for Leyte Gulf when they attacked
the Japanese Center Force cruisers early on the morning of October
23. Darter put four torpedoes into the cruiser Atago, which was
Admiral Kurita's flagship. The torpedoes destroyed the ship and it
sank. Darter also hit the cruiser Takao, blowing off its rudder.
Dace attacked and destroyed the cruiser Maya.

Darter and Dace tracked the damaged cruiser Takao through the
tortuous channels of Palawan Passage until just after midnight on
October 24 when Darter grounded on Bombay Shoal. All efforts to
get her off failed. All confidential papers and equipment were
destroyed, and the entire crew boarded Dace. When demolition
charges planted in Darter failed to destroy her, Dace fired
torpedoes which exploded in the shallow reef. As Dace submerged,
Darter was bombed by an enemy plane. Dace reached Fremantle safely
with Darter's men on November 6, 1944.

Interesting info, thanks, Gene!

--
HP, aka Jerry

"And, that's all I'm going to say about that" - Forrest Gump